Improvement in bridle-bits



R. E. WHITMAN. MIME-3M5.

No. 194,202. Patented Aug.1 4,1877.

ar as, ER w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROYAL E. WHITMAN, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRIDLIE-BITS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,202, dated August 14, 1877; application filed February 15, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROYAL E. WHITMAN, of Springfield, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Bridle-Bit, of which the following is a specification:

This invention consists, substantially, in the combination, with a curb-bit, of snap-hooks hinged upon the cheek-pieces, or upon the prolonged ends of the mouth piece, so as to extend upward to catch in the rings of a halter, and, while furnishing rigid connections with the halter long enough to prevent the reversal of the bit, are so hinged as to permit it a limited play in the animals mouth.

The object of my imention is to enable a curb-bit to be used in connection with the ordinary halter, to enable the bridle, as a separate thing, to be entirely dispensed with.

In the drawings, Figure I is a perspective view of myimproved bridle-bit. Figs. II, III, and IV are detail views.

As the most convenient way of constructing this bit, the mouth-piece B, after extending through square holes in the cheek-bars O O to make rigid joints, is prolonged beyond them tofurnish shoulder-bearin gs for the hooks D D, and to also furnish stock to form rivetheads to hold the hooks D D and bars 0 G in place, by having its extreme ends upset upon washers bearing immediately against the hooks.

The bearings of the bit proper in the hooks D D are formed as seen in Figs. II and III by shaping the outer ends of the mouth-piece to conform to the configuration of the slot or opening in the shanks of the supporting-hooks D D, as shown in Fig. III, thus permitting the bit to oscillate freely in one directionyas far as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, before stopping it.

It will be seen from these details that the mechanical construction of the bit is exceedingly simple.

In operation, the bit,.having the chin-strap secured in the holes a o, and the reins to their rings 9 g, is inserted in the horses mouth, and

secured alternately to the rings of the halter while in that position, or else is secured to one halterring before being placed in the mouth to be caught to the other.

When attached to the halter the necessary play of the bit in the mouth, when the horse is in motion, is provided for by the movement allowed it upon the supporting-hooks, which motion is limited in one direction to enable the curb to be effective, and in the other to prevent the bit from having any movement in the direction of being reversed in the-horses month, which last could consequently only occur upon the stretching of the cheekstraps of the halter, and the bit could only be entirely reversed upon the straps, stretching a distance equal to twice the length of the hook, which would be an impossibility.

I do not wish to confine myself to the spring-hook as the means of connecting a curb-bit and halter, as various catches may be used for that purpose, provided they allow only a limited oscillation to the bit proper, and are long enough to prevent the bit from being reversed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with a bridle-bit, of the spring supporting-hooks D D, slotted to receive the bearing ends of the bit, and to admit of a limited swinging or rocking movement of the same before forming a rigid connection with the hooks, all substantially as and for the purpose stated.

2. The combination, with the mouth-piece B and cheek-pieces C U, of the spring supporting-hooks D D, slotted to receive the bearing ends of the mouth-piece, and to admit of a limited swinging or rocking movement of the same before forming a rigid connection with the hooks, all as set forth.

R. E. WHITMAN.

Witnesses:

R. F. HYDE, J. M. STEBBINS. 

